I've heard it said that timing is everything, and my family certainly timed our arrival at SMU well! In addition to the great things happening in our Department of Athletics, we have had the privilege of participating in several amazing events - the dedication of the Bush Presidential Center being the most recent - and will celebrate another one tomorrow as the university holds its ninety-eighth annual Commencement Convocation.

Due to the ongoing renovation of Moody Coliseum (which is going very well - see the progress here), the university community will gather on the Historic Main Quadrangle for the first time in over 50 years to celebrate the academic achievements of the Class of 2013. The weather forecast does not include rain; and it is sure to be a special day on the Hilltop! Over 50 student-athletes will receive degrees during Saturday's ceremony. This is the ultimate goal for each of our students and a lasting symbol of their status as proud members of the Mustang family.

On the athletics front, our spring sports have either entered or completed the championship portion of their seasons. Men's and women's tennis both showed improvement finishing the year ranked in the top 75 and top 50, respectively. Women's golf finished 13th at the NCAA Central Regionals and broke several team and individual records this season, while the men's golf team is competing currently in NCAA Regionals in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Women's track and field took runner-up honors at the C-USA Championships and is preparing for NCAA prelims in Austin next week and our women's rowing team will compete in the C-USA Championships tomorrow.

It's hard to believe another academic year has come to an end. This will mark my first year, of hopefully many, here at SMU.

And now, to the mailbag...

Candy Flood (via Twitter): Who do we need to talk to now to get more SMU merchandise in the stores?

Answer: As I have shared in a previous column, we are currently working to broaden the offering of SMU-branded products available at retail. Hopefully this will include a web site with a robust product line to accommodate both local and out-of-town alumni and fans. Until then, you can find SMU merchandise at Walgreens, Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart, Dicks, Sports Authority, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Hat World/Lids, CVS, Finish Line and others. A more detailed list of retailers is available here. As always, if there are items you are interested in beyond the current selection, please encourage them to expand their offering. We are committed to doing more on our end; however, the consumer is king - if you buy it, they will order more!

If you have a question or concern, contact me through this form, or email us at smumustangs@smu.edu. You can also reach me on Twitter at @AD_RickHart.

In alignment with the educational mission of the University, we engage the community in meaningful ways and develop the resources necessary to graduate Student-Leaders and pursue championships. Above all else, we prepare Students for life.